Yep! There’s a difference!

Most people use the terms Mobile, Manufactured & Modular interchangeably without knowing there is actually a difference. In fact, unless a real estate professional has educated themself on what sets these homes apart or has had direct experience with these types of homes, even they might have some confusion on how to properly classify them.

Let’s Keep This Simple

Mobile, Manufactured, & Modular homes are all considered Prefabricated Homes (aka prefab) which means they were all manufactured in offsite, climate controlled facilities and then later moved to the location in which they reside. You’ve probably seen these pieces of the home being transported down the interstate on a semi trailer with a big yellow sign that says, “WIDE LOAD.”

Let’s review, the three categories of Prefab Homes are Mobile, Manufactured, & Modular.

Mobile Homes

Mobile Homes are as the name indicates, a portable dwelling that can be connected to utilities, but rarely have a permanent foundation. Different than an RV, a mobile home is designed with the intent for year-round living.

Manufactured Homes Are the New Mobile Home

The term Mobile Homes (often referred to as trailer homes and confused with manufactured homes) is so 1980 and here’s why…

The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 authorized HUD to issue and enforce construction and safety codes on mobile homes effective in 1976.

Four years later, the The Housing Act of 1980 mandated the term manufactured be used in place of mobile in all federal law and literature for all of these prefab homes built after 1976. The goal was to more clearly define these homes as dwellings rather than vehicles and to reflect the new standards that had been implemented.

So just like that, Mobile is out and Manufactured is in! If the prefab home was built after 1976, according to The Housing Act of 1980, the dwelling shall by federal law be referred to as a manufactured home rather than a mobile home… “Mobile Homes are so 1980.”

Three Standard Sizes

Manufactured homes are sometimes referred to as a single wide, double wide and triple wide—its standard sizes.

Skirts Aren’t Just For Girls

Many times a manufactured home is placed on blocks or metal piers with customized skirting around it; however, manufactured homes can also be placed on a permanent foundation or on a basement. While a manufactured home can typically be relocated, it often requires a professional company or contractor that specializes in manufactured home set up and delivery.

Look for the HUD Tag

Each manufactured home can be identified with a small metal tag. Look for these tags on the outside of each “section,” the inside of a kitchen cabinet or bedroom closet. If you can’t find a tag, try checking for information on the electrical panel box.

But Wait There’s More! What’ s a Modular Home?

Modular Homes are build indoors like manufactured homes, but are VERY DIFFERENT than manufactured homes.

To start, Modular Homes are not required to follow HUD Code like manufactured homes; instead, they must meet all state, local and regional building codes specific to the location of the home.

Modular Homes have come a long way over the years and in many ways are treated a lot like stick-built (aka on-site) homes with options for customizing. High quality modular homes even use the same quality of building materials as those of stick-built homes.

Once the prebuilt pieces are delivered to the home site and joined together, modular homes look a lot like stick-built homes. In fact, most people have a difficult time telling the difference between the two!

Unlike mobile homes or manufactured homes, modular homes are always placed on permanent foundations and considered “real property” just like a stick-built home which means buyers can finance a modular home just like any other stick-built home.